I have now got a crusade locally.

Our village is organised with local residents' associations, under a village association, both of which we belong to. The idea when the village was built was for everyone to get involved in running the place, but this has fallen by the wayside, and the committees are made up of the willing, unelected.

On the corner of my neighbourhood there is a small wooded area, and one committee at village level has got it in mind to cut it back, rip out the understory, and open up that part of our bit to traffic noise and lights, and intrusion by walkers cutting across it. They were supposed to have a site meeting with our Chairman, and this was minuted at the meeting setting it up, but they then held the meeting without notifying her, and have told her that she has no input into the decisions.

So I'm drafting a letter, and getting ready to post notices and talk to neighbours and the local wildlife trust to get them involved.

We're dealing with the sort of little person who says "this is what I want" and ignores anyone else.

At least it's my choice to get involved this time. Ho hum. a busy time looms.

Penny